Chapter 63 – Harvesting B-Grade Crops

“You bastards!”

Se-jun was furious at the small Branch Scouts for ruining the cherry tomato field he had spent hours working on.

“Aileen, call Mother Crimson Giant Bear!”

After facing them last time, it seemed Mother Crimson Giant Bear alone would be enough.

[The Tower Administrator says to wait just a moment.]

“Thanks.”

Requesting support through Aileen like that, Se-jun stepped forward to face the enemies.

“Go! Black rabbit!”

Ppyak!

At Se-jun’s shout, the black rabbit let out a battle cry and ran forward.

And,

Whoosh. Whoosh.

Se-jun threw torches toward the enemies. When the torches, which flew in a circular motion, hit the bodies of the small Branch Scouts,

Whoosh.

They easily caught fire.

Whoosh. Whoosh.

Whoosh.

As Se-jun continued to throw torches, the small Branch Scouts fell this time too, naturally forming a fire wall.

Since the grey rabbits had made 300 torches all day long, there was no shortage.

The black rabbit went right into the middle of the enemies, defeating them with his hammer and performing a one-man show.

Ppyak!

Ppyok! Ppyok! Ppyok!

While Se-jun and the black rabbit were successfully blocking the small Branch Scouts like that,

Crunch. Crunch.

Large Branch Scouts appeared, crossing the fire wall.

“Black rabbit, aim for the legs!”

Ppyak!

The black rabbit moved quickly, aiming only at the legs of the large Branch Scouts.

Ppyok!

Crack.

The large Branch Scouts, with one of their legs broken, lost their balance and fell, blocking the front of the small Branch Scouts and creating a barrier themselves.

“Nice.”

While the black rabbit tied up the feet of the large Branch Scouts, Se-jun burned the small Branch Scouts with torches.

[You have defeated a small Branch Scout of the Corrupted Ent.]

[You have obtained 25 experience points.]

…

..

.

After about 30 minutes had passed like that,

Kuwerng!

Mother Crimson Giant Bear’s loud roar was heard.

Kkueeng!

Cuengi also cried out loudly following his mother. Cuengi… let’s grow bigger first.

Crunch. Crunch.

Crunch. Crunch.

Hearing Mother Crimson Giant Bear’s roar, the Branch Scouts began to retreat.

However, the Branch Scouts were too slow to run away from the Mother Crimson Giant Bear.

Thud. Thud.

Kuwong!

In a single charge from the Mother Crimson Giant Bear, the Branch Scouts, regardless of small or large, were crushed.

And,

Cueng! Cueng!

Cuengi, near the place where Mother Crimson Giant Bear had passed, luckily tore off the limbs of the surviving Branch Scouts and brought them to Se-jun.

Thanks to Cuengi’s help like that, Se-jun leveled up and reached level 24.

***

The 38th floor of the tower.

Kieeek!

Thud!

A spider monster let out a scream and collapsed.

“Boss, how long do we have to do this?”

Moving the carcass of the spider monster, one hunter grumbled and asked Jang Rin.

“Yeah. Let’s just run away!”

“Idiot, as long as that cat has the contract, there’s no use running away. We will only face retaliation later!”

“But…”

“Let’s wait and look for an opportunity first. There will definitely be a chance to escape.”

While Jang Rin was comforting his subordinates like that,

“Boss, two guys are coming this way?”

Two muscular male hunters wearing only pants approached. One looked to be in his late 60s with white hair, and the other looked to be in his early 40s with black hair.

‘It was the perfect number to work on.’

As soon as Jang Rin saw the white-haired man in his 60s wearing only pants, Korea’s strongest hunter came to mind, but he had heard that the hunter retired after falling under a flame-related curse.

“Prepare for work.”

“Yes!”

Jang Rin and his subordinates quickly hid the spider carcass, hid behind the wall, and put on masks. Then they waited for the hunters to approach.

However,

“Magic Missile.”

The white-haired man among the two men detected them and used his skill first.

‘Damn, we’re busted!’

“Run away!”

Jang Rin, who felt that the opponent was extraordinary, quickly shouted, but it was too late. Before they knew it, the hunter who was with the white-haired man was blocking their escape route.

“We’re blocked!”

While Jang Rin and his subordinates were panicked like that,

Thud thud thud.

Magic Missiles hit their bodies.

‘This is Magic Missile?!’

With that last thought, all of the Black Wolf Band fainted.

“Just as Representative Theo said, they are too incompetent.”

Looking at the fainted Black Wolf Band, Han Tae-jun began to write down a training schedule on how to make them competent.

***

The Tower Administrator’s Area.

“Uuuugh.”

Aileen was lost in thought, furrowing her brow.

“What should I name it?”

Aileen was debating a new name for the Combat Rations – Red Locust Cherry Tomato Soup that Se-jun made for her.

“Since it’s a dish that the commendable human made for me, it’s totally awful to have the name of the ominous Red Locust in it!”

Aileen, who was debating a new name for the soup like that, thought:

“Khehehe. I should make it by combining the names of the commendable human, Park Se-jun, and me, the great black dragon Aileen Pritani.”

“Khehehe. Decided! Seph’s Soup!”

[By the authority of the Tower Administrator, the name of the dishes containing Red Locust is forcibly changed to Seph.]

Aileen used the authority of the Tower Administrator to forcibly change the name of the dishes. Of course, the cost incurred was Aileen’s speck of magic power and a large amount of Se-jun’s contribution points.

***

[By the authority of the Tower Administrator, the recipe for Combat Rations – Red Locust Soup was changed to Seph’s Soup.]

[By the authority of the Tower Administrator, the recipe for Combat Rations – Red Locust Cherry Tomato Soup was changed to Seph’s Cherry Tomato Soup.]

“Seph?”

While Se-jun was reading the messages,

[The Tower Administrator says she combined ‘Se’ from Se-jun and ‘ph’ from Pritani.]

[The Tower Administrator makes a big deal about specially conceding the front of the name.]

[The Tower Administrator tells you to consider it an honor that your name is in front of the great black dragon’s name.]

“Sure. Thanks.”

Slice.

Since it didn’t matter much to Se-jun what the name of the dish was, he answered half-heartedly, cutting cherry tomato branches and harvesting cherry tomatoes.

[The Tower Administrator says that if you are thankful, you should give her Magical Cherry Tomatoes.]

“Alright. Give me the quest.”

While Se-jun gave Aileen the cherry tomatoes and focused on harvesting again,

Slice.

[You have harvested 9 ripe Magical Cherry Tomatoes at the same time.]

[Due to the effect of Harvesting Lv. 4, you harvested 1 crop of a higher grade.]

[Job experience increased significantly.]

[The proficiency of Harvesting Lv. 4 increased significantly.]

[Due to the effect of Proficiency Increase Lv. 1, the proficiency of Harvesting Lv. 4 increased by an additional 5%.]

[You have obtained 290 experience points.]

“Oh!”

The grade of the cherry tomatoes currently harvested was C-grade. But the grade rising by one step meant that he harvested a B-grade Magical Cherry Tomato.

Excited after seeing the message, Se-jun quickly checked the cherry tomatoes hanging on the cherry tomato branches. Since they couldn’t be distinguished from the outside, he had to check them one by one.

“So this is the B-grade.”

Se-jun found the B-grade Magical Cherry Tomato and examined its options.

[Magical Cherry Tomato]

A cherry tomato grown inside the tower, which absorbed sufficient nutrients, making it delicious.

Cultivated by a farmer familiar with farming, its taste and efficiency improved.

Upon consumption, it decomposes 40g of fat in the body, increasing magic power by 1 for 10 minutes.

The effect stacks up to 10 times within an hour.

Upon consumption by a non-awakened, it decomposes 40g of fat, giving vitality to the body.

The effect applies even if there was insufficient fat to decompose.

Grower: Tower Farmer Park Se-jun

Expiration Date: 120 days

Grade: B

Decomposing 40g of fat and increasing magic power by 1. As the grade rose, the efficiency became better. If he ate 10 B-grade Magical Cherry Tomatoes, his magic power would increase by 10. It was a figure that could no longer be ignored.

In addition, the detail that the effect applies even if there was no fat was added.

“Shall I see what the taste is like?”

Se-jun quickly put the B-grade Magical Cherry Tomato into his mouth. Since there was only one, it would be troublesome if he got caught.

Pop.

Gush.

The firm but thin skin burst, and the sweet and sour juice inside soaked Se-jun’s mouth.

“Delicious.”

While Se-jun, who ate the cherry tomato with a much stronger taste, was enjoying the aftertaste with a satisfied expression,

Ppyak!

Cueng!

The black rabbit and Cuengi, who had been hunting in the pond, approached Se-jun.

‘Could it be?!’

Se-jun was nervous, wondering if he got caught eating the B-grade cherry tomato alone, and harvested cherry tomatoes while pretending nothing was wrong.

Ppyak!

Cueng!

Fortunately, the two had come to get permission to see if they could eat a snack.

“Well, you can eat.”

When Se-jun gave permission, the black rabbit took out a carrot from the storage and began to eat, and Cuengi came to Se-jun carrying a glass jar containing honey.

Click.

Glug.

When Se-jun was about to pour 1 glug of honey for Cuengi and stop,

Grab.

Cuengi grabbed Se-jun’s hand with his front paw.

Cueng. Cueng.

[Give me more honey. Otherwise, I will tell hyung that Dad ate the cherry tomato alone.]

“A secret is something you carry to the grave, right?”

Nod.

Cuengi nodded his head.

Glug.

Cuengi obtained 1 more glug of honey in exchange for keeping the secret.

***

The 67th floor of the tower.

“Oh! You’re here!”

Lizardman Warrior Tamuro, who was waiting for the Blade Leaves, welcomed the wolves led by Malkai.

“Lord Tamuro, here they are.”

“Thank you. Here is 1,250 Tower Coins, the price for 500 Blade Leaves.”

“Yes. Thank you. We will be going now.”

As the wolves were about to pull the cart and go to where their tribe was,

“Wait! What is that?”

Tamuro asked, looking at the pot that was not unloaded from the cart. A delicious smell came from the pot.

“It is a soup made of Red Locust meat, would you like a bowl?”

Although it was a soup they brought to feed their kin, Tamuro’s eyes looking at the pot were too passionate.

“Smack. Then shall I have just one bowl?”

At Malkai’s words, Tamuro replied, smacking his lips as if he had been waiting.

“Here it is.”

Malkai poured the soup into a bowl and handed it to Tamuro.

Slurp.

“…!”

Tamuro’s eyes widened upon tasting the soup.

And,

Gulp gulp.

He drank the soup in one shot.

[You have consumed a full serving of Combat Rations – Seph’s Soup.]

[Strength increases by 7.1 for 30 minutes.]

[Satiety was maintained for 3 hours.]

“Oh?!”

Tamuro was surprised again by the effect of the food.

“Is this really made from Red Locust meat?!”

“Yes.”

“Malkai! I will give you all the Red Locust meat, so let our Lizardman warriors eat it too! I will pay enough for the soup!”

In this way, Se-jun’s means of making money increased.

***

The 75th floor of the tower.

“Buy it quickly and go up, meow!”

Theo, who arrived at the shop area, quickly began to buy the items Se-jun ordered. And on the way running to the blacksmith shop to draw equipment,

“Representative Theo, let’s go together!”

“No, meow! You guys slowly come to the blacksmith shop, meow!”

As the bulky wolves moved slowly due to being pushed by other merchants, Theo decided to abandon the wolves and go quickly by himself.

‘My knees!!!’

Every second was urgent.

When Theo had almost arrived at the blacksmith shop like that,

“Well, look who it is?! Guys, look here!”

A cat looked at Theo and pretended to know him.

“Oh! Isn’t it Theo who ran away in the middle of the night from Granier Village?!”

“I heard he was a wandering merchant, I guess it’s true?”

The group, hearing the call of the bad cat, approached.

And,

“It’s been a long time. Theo.”

A fat black cat stepped forward and said. It was Oren, the son of the richest family in Granier Village, who had caused great humiliation to Theo.

“Long time no see, meow.”

Theo said with a grin.